K-LOVE Radio Features – March 2011

Jesus Is The Only Way

In 1972, I was an artist selling my wares in Lahaina, Maui, and a young “Jesus Freak” said something that infuriated me.

He said, “Jesus was the ONLY way!”

At the time I believed there were many paths to God. Jesus was “ONE” way, but certainly not “THE” way. He finally read these words of Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.”

THAT WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THEN!

But now I see these words as they really are: ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

Jesus wasn’t just another option: a bright spot in this dark world. He WAS God come to Earth . . . the SAVIOR of the world.

Short-changed or Over-paid

Do you feel like you’ve been short-changed by God, or over-paid?

The answer to this question will not just affect HOW YOU PROCESS YOUR PAST, but HOW YOU VIEW YOUR FUTURE. Has God given any of us a RAW DEAL? Or have we merely MISINTERPRETED the OPPORTUNITIES He’s SENT OUR WAY.

God’s Word says He’s given each of us, “…everything we need to live a godly, fulfilled life.” (2Peter 1:3)

None of us have been SHORT-CHANGED. At times, we’re just SHORT-SIGHTED! We’ve missed seeing what God was really doing. Ask God to open your eyes to His plan. Ask Him to reveal the thoughts and intents of His heart. The God who sent His only Son to die in our place has ALWAYS given us His best.

Are We There Yet?

When I was growing up my family went on long car trips. I’d ask my parents, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” It’s a valid question, though when repeated every other minute, it’s a little annoying.

But, I never asked my parents “Do you know where we are going?” I ASSUMED they knew . . . I TRUSTED they knew . . . I RESTED in their knowing.

Trust is BELIEVING God has ALL the CLARITY I NEED. I DON’T NEED TO KNOW what’s going on, as long as I know HE KNOWS.

A lot of my ASSUMPTIONS about life have REALLY BEEN PRESUMPTIONS.

I’m not WALLOWING IN IGNORANCE, I’m RESTING IN A CONFIDENT TRUST that God’s guiding my life.

Hide And Seek With God

At the entrance of a manufacturing plant, a sign read: “If you’re like a wheelbarrow, going no further than you’re pushed, you need not apply for work here!”

God has hidden the precious things on Earth in such a way that finding them is a REWARD to the DILIGENT . . . a PRIZE to the INDUSTRIOUS . . . but a DISAPPOINTMENT to the LAZY.

The nut is hidden in its shell. The pearl is buried at the bottom of the ocean. Gold is imprisoned in the mountain. Gems are only found when you crush rock, and oil and gas are deep within the earth. Even the ground only gives its harvest to the hard-working farmer.

Love Compels Us

A missionary in Africa was asked if he really liked what he was doing.

His response was shocking. “Do I like this work? No. My wife and I don’t like dirt. We don’t like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse. We don’t like the heat, and the disease. And we don’t like being away from our loved ones, and all of the conveniences of home. But . . . are WE TO DO only those things for Jesus that we like to do? Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We’re called to ‘Go’ . . . and we go. Love compels us.”

God is love. That’s who He is. And whatever He asks us to do will be motivated by His nature . . . His love.

The Devoted Terrier

In Edinburgh, Scotland there’s a statue of a small Scottish Terrier.

The master of the dog had died when it was two-years-old. But the dog followed the funeral procession to the gravesite. After everyone had gone and the grave was covered, the little dog crawled to the foot of the grave, as if to wait for his master’s return.

The dog waited and waited through all kinds of weather and unbelievable ordeals. People would capture the dog and take him home, but he always escaped and returned to the foot of the grave of his master to continue the vigil. The dog waited until death—for 14 years.

(SLOW) I wonder . . . how much more you and I should be devoted to Jesus?

I Hate Imperfection

I hate imperfection! Don’t you? Especially in others.

But when it’s my imperfection, I ask everyone around me for grace, patience and understanding.

The funny thing is, in life, we generally don’t receive any more grace than we’ve given. That’s why Jesus challenged us, “…whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” (Matthew 7:12) It’s a boomerang!

Proverbs says it this way, “…a man who has friends must himself be friendly…” (Proverbs 18:24a, NKJV) And finally Jesus added an even greater warning, “If you forgive others, you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37b, NLT)

Sounds, like, if I want to be loved, then I better start loving others.

God’s Withholding Nothing

Does the God of the Universe fit inside your brain? If you think you’ve got God figured out, your God isn’t big enough. So why do we think we can fully understand what He’s doing or even what’s best for us?

Until we esteem God’s Word more than OUR OWN THOUGHTS, we’ll squirm every time something goes contrary to OUR EXPECTATIONS.

I don’t need to figure out WHAT’S GOING ON as long as I TRUST the God who already knows. If I lack wisdom I can ask God for His help…but I must ask without doubting Him.

The next time you think GOD’S WITHHOLDING INSIGHT FROM YOU, believe that it would be WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION. God will withhold nothing from us, if it’s truly for our good.

Have You Lost Heart?

Earth is brief! Heaven is long! Though our time here is the shortest chapter of our endless lives, it will set the tone for eternity.

While it’s appropriate to rejoice in its brevity, it’s wise to be concerned with its finality. Let the Apostle Paul’s words lift your spirits, “Therefore WE DO NOT lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the INWARD MAN is being renewed day by day. For our LIGHT AFFLICTION which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (2Corinthians 4:16–17)

Don’t lose heart!

The eternal glory will be worth every pressure and trouble we’ll ever go through.

The Purpose Of Pressure

The challenge comes, not in that we have pressures, but in how we view them.

If they are anchors around our necks weighing us down in despair, then we are MISSING THEIR POINT ENTIRELY.

Instead of sinking us, the pressures in our lives ACTUALLY ANCHOR US to the One who loves us most.

In eternity, we’ll thank God for each trial He so wisely designed with us in mind.

There are no accidental struggles in life; just MARVELOUSLY CRAFTED STRETCHING’S that not only bring out the best in us, but, once ours eyes are opened, reveal the BEST OF GOD’S ALL-WISE INTENTIONS FOR US.

Miraculous Opportunities

NO ONE, and NO SITUATION can force me to be DEPRESSED or DISCOURAGED . . . angry or bitter.

These DEFORMED responses to life are ALL in my court. I can welcome them as FRIENDS, or dismiss them as the DISTRACTING ENEMIES they really are.

EVERY situation in my life is an OPPORTUNITY to see the MIRACULOUS, saving hand of God. I can live with EXCITED anticipation of how God is going to DELIVER ME out of my SEEMING predicaments, or I can wait FRETTING for the other shoe to fall.

This is ONE SITUATION where I CHOOSE to see my life from God’s point of view.